THOR: RAGNAROK 2017

​Super hero flicks are taking another step in their evolution by splitting into their own subgenres. There is the gloomy but sincere Dark Knight trilogy which is a fantastic set of cop dramas that just happens to have a guy in a cape. There are the all out action flicks such as Iron Man and the Avengers which are reminiscent of 1980's actioners but with better actors and stories. Slotting into the fantasy genre are Dr Strange and the mystically heavy previous Thor movies. We also have the heist subgenre which I have to admit took me a while to get my head around, potentially why Ant Man scored so low. So if Iron Man is an action flick, Dark Knight a drama, Dr Strange a fantasy and Ant Man a heist movie then Thor: Ragnarok poses an out and out "how to" in the comedy buddy genre and it's a belter.

Chris Hemsworth returns as the ever buff Thor, God of Thunder. He is joined by Thor regulars Tom Hiddleston as the fantastically entertaining Loki, Anthony Hopkins as worldly wise Odin and Idris Elba as the more to do this time round, Heimdall. They go up against weirdly attractive goth antagonist Hela, Goddess of Death who is out to rule the Nine Realms and all who resides within.Joining the story are characters Valkyrie (Tessa Thompson), The Grandmaster (Jeff Goldblum) and Skurge played by the quite brilliant Karl Urban. You know what you are getting with Goldblum which essentially is Jurassic Park's Dr Ian Malcolm and Brudlefly rolled into a Marvel character. Thompson has some nice one liners and is a well shaped spunky female character. Something that Marvel don't have a lot of so great to see Valkyrie being added to the roster. The travesty here is that Urban has not got more to do. This is the man who played Dredd behind a mask for two hours and still managed to give a better performance than most actors that year. He does fill out his character arc particularly well but it would've seen a bit more of Skurge.

That minor quibble aside, the movie is hugely entertaining and very, very clever. Director Taika Waititi (What Lies in the Shadows) has taken the Thor franchise and the characters in a whole new direction. It moves away from the myth heavy Thor and Thor: The Dark World and gives Ragnarok a belting set of comedy lungs and more winks to the camera than you can shake a Nordic hammer at. The comedy comes thick and fast and is genuinely funny. It's not the sort of funny that you have to be in the club to understand, this is just giggly stuff at its best. The dialogue, which was mostly improvised, between Thor and the other Marvel capes is electric with each exchange feeling fresh. Throw impish Hiddleston's Loki into the mix and this lays the pipes for liquid charm to run through each interaction and each character sequence.

The story is strong and ploughs along nicely, not dwelling too much on one scene. Cate Blanchet drives the serious nature of the story and does it with a determination and grit which forms a good baddie. The action is well defined and lends to the humour.

The soundtrack is majestic and matches the tone, style and pace of the movie. Waititi excels with his selection of tracks, popping out proper head thrashing rock. There are hints of Guardians of the Galaxy about Ragnarok, no more so than in the soundtrack. The movie and the soundtrack harmonise which creates something else completely that is even more beautiful.

Thor: Ragnarok is great fun and a worthy additional to the Marvel franchise. Every so often Marvel seems to stretch the playing field that bit further. This movie has everything that was needed for a rather stiff stream of Marvel franchise films and added a few extra treats for good measure. Although this is mainly a buddy comedy for all to enjoy Marvel has blended comedy, action and a touch of drama and has given us something that can only be categorised as a "must see".

10.00 Faultless

THE Last Jedi 2017

Does the cinema experience affect your take on a film? Recently I took in The Justice League at a local multiplex cinema. The film review can be clicked on below however the experience was dreadful due to two drunken buffoons sitting to my right. Immersion into the flick was impossible with my attention getting constantly shunted to the slightly whiffy noise machines. I grant you, The Justice League wasn't exactly a "thinker" but regardless the film was marred by the experience. In stark contrast my viewing of The Last Jedi was ramped up due to not only being the lovely Mrs C's plus one (a highlight in itself) but also watching part VIII of the Star Wars saga in the impressive Odeon Luxe cinema screen. Recliners and food tables no less. If only the movie held up.

The Last Jedi sees heroes Poe (Oscar Isaac), Rey (Daisy Ridley) and Fin (John Boyega) continuing the Star Wars franchise for a new generation of fans. Apposing them is tantrummy threat Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) and bureaucratic boo hiss baddie General Hux (Domhnal Gleeson) who are commanded by CGI overlord Snoke (voiced and digitally mapped by Andy Serkis). For the oldies amongst us we have Princess/General Leia (Carrie Fisher) and the McGuffin from the previous movie Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill).

One of the main problems I have with The Last Jedi is that, aside from taking a dangerous route far far away from J.J. Abrahm's Force Awakens, it isn't very good. It's hard not to compare the first two films in this series so while The Force Awakens had its faults it also had plot, purpose and more than a few rousing action set pieces. Unfortunately director Ryan Johnson's The Last Jedi has one spectacular action set piece, a drizzly second act and a Scooby Doo ending.

The actors are very watchable and without the quality of Isaac, Ridley and Boyega TLJ would be completely lost. Hamill and Fisher are stronger this time round and because the plot revolves around the oldies they act as a central lynchpin to the plot although Hamill and Fisher look positively embarrassed with the direction of their much loved characters. It isn't really a fitting epitaph for the much missed Carrie Fisher but given her wide and varied career out with Princess Leia nothing would have been fitting. It's best just to remember how clever, charming and stunning she actually was.

Driver continues to be a lacklustre baddie, Gleeson seems to be there just to sneer lines and the supporting cast including Benicio Del Toro, Laura Dern and Kelly Marie Tran are making up the numbers. The actors have undoubted ability however they are not given anything wholesome that they can get their acting chops around.

Ryan Johnson has taken the Star Wars franchise in a very different direction, one which was not expected but it's certainly one that I could have lived without. George Lucas had a similar idea with his prequels and suffered quite a bit of abuse. The fans reaction this time round is mixed as you would expect but fans have short memories. I should know, I am one. This is not part of the franchise that I will wear out like I did the original films and The Force Awakens. Quite but with true fan amnesia I will be going to see the next one. And in case you wondered...you will find me in the reclining chairs.

7.0 The Last Jedi - 1.0 off for that 2nd act, 1.0 off for lack of support for the supporting cast, 1.0 off for the direction that we went sent the story far, far away.